The Voice of Cities and Regions
in the UNFCCC Climate Process
Keep up-to-date with the LGMA
Every month, you’ll receive updates about how cities and regions are engaging in the global climate agenda and other global sustainability processes, prepared for you by the Global Advocacy team at ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.
Through our webinars and bulletin, ICLEI’s Director of Global Advocacy Yunus Arikan, will be highlighting developments and key topics from the global climate arena to orient local and regional governments on the important issues of multilevel governance and progress in the global climate negotiations through the year, and in the leadup to COP29.
Webinars
Bulletin
At a glance: Milestones on the road toward COP29
The LGMA at COP28 showing #MultilevelActionDelivers!
With the Paris Agreement having entered into force, the LGMA is ushering in the agreement’s second phase by cementing collaboration across levels of government as the mechanism for achieving full-scale implementation. COP28 — hosted by the United Arab Emirates from 30 Nov to 12 Dec, 2023 — has seen important milestones for the first Global Stocktake, adaptation, loss-and-damage finance, and more.
The LGMA advocated to fully operationalize the SURGe initiative, account for local voices in the #Stocktake4ClimateEmergency, and accelerate UNFCCC engagement with local governments throughout the year.
Key outcomes of COP28
LGMA Statement on COP28 Outcomes
LGMA leaders issued a joint statement on the COP28 negotiations outcomes, including the Global Stocktake, CHAMP, Global Goal on Adaptation and more.
LGMA response to CHAMP
The Coalition for High Ambition Multi-level Partnerships (CHAMP) is an initiative from the UAE COP28 Presidency with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies to accelerate multilevel climate action from national and subnational governments.
Stocktake4ClimateEmergency Outcomes Report
Read key outcomes from the 20+ local stocktakes held around the world as subnational contributions to the Global Stocktake.
Outcome statement on multilevel action & urbanization
10 key 0utcomes from the COP28 Local Climate Action Summit (1-2 December) and Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate (6 December).
Our daily updates from COP28
Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion
The Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion serves as the global stage for the city climate agenda during COP28. The Pavilion brought into focus not only the challenges and needs, but also the accomplishments and commitments of local and subnational actors on climate action.
Our inclusive platform brings together cities, towns, regions, and representatives from the LGMA Constituency organizations, as well as individuals and groups dedicated to supporting local and subnational actors in playing more substantial roles in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The Pavilion is co-convened by UN-Habitat and ICLEI in its role as the focal point of the LGMA Constituency. The Pavilion is co-hosted by the Scottish Government and Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) and C40 Cities.
Localizing the UN Global Stocktake
Under the banner #Stocktake4ClimateEmergency, cities, towns, and regions hosted local stocktakes that provided an official contribution to the Paris Agreement’s Global Stocktake — essentially turning their city halls and regional parliaments into mini-COP venues.
During these events, city stakeholders asked “Where are we? Where do we want to go? How do we get there in an equitable and just way?” concerning their local ambition, national climate plans, and global climate justice.
From Sharm El Sheikh to Dubai: The Road to COP28
Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) Initiative
It’s clear that we need effective multi-level governance to transform cities. To achieve this vision, the COP27 Presidency has launched the SURGe Initiative with the objective to enhance and accelerate local and urban climate action through multi-level governance, engagement, and delivery through five integrated tracks, contributing to achieving the Paris Climate Goals and Sustainable Development Goals.
The SURGe Initiative is developed in collaboration with UN-Habitat and facilitated by ICLEI and has been endorsed by 70+ global partners.
How we work
The LGMA has served as the voice of cities and regions in global processes since were designated an official United Nations constituency group at the 1992 UN Earth Summit. We advocated for local governments at the first climate COP in 1995 and continue to achieve advocacy success for multilevel action across the climate, nature, and desertification agendas. Learn about our advocacy channels and get involved!
Advocacy outcomes
News and analysis
Insights from LGMA members and partners.
LGMA advocates in action
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"Oslo is the electric vehicle capital of the world and that has been made possible with the close cooperation of the national government so that it is cheaper to buy electric/hybrid vehicles and at the local level it is made easier to use. Planning for the city needs to involve the citizens of the city actively – which also helps raise awareness of the challenges being faced. For plans to be implemented they should be concrete and measurable." Watch the entire Climate Studio interview.
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"Cities are taking on the standards of the Paris agreements in order to be able to meet them ourselves... We want a just transition, and the social impacts that occur during a quick transition can't effect those who need the most help." Watch the entire Climate Studio interview.
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"Collaboration among local goverments can push national governments forward towards de-carbonized societies." Watch the entire Climate Studio interview.
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"In every council we do, we make sure that every sector is well represented: youth, academia, religion, persons with disabilities, elderly, urban poor... because lacking one sector would make our action slower." Watch the entire Climate Studio interview.
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"I think it is necessary for everyone to recognize that we are in a climate emergency, and I am not afraid to use the expression climate emergency." Watch the entire Climate Studio interview.
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"No city or region in the world is immune to disasters anymore... The impacts are different, but the solutions should be collaboratively developed." Watch the entire Climate Studio interview.
